$750K Princesse Lele Leads the Way at Keeneland Opener

Three Chimneys Farm reached to $750,000 to bring home Princesse Lele, a Quality Road   daughter of the grade 1-winning mare Carina Mia , during the Jan. 11 opening session of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. The price made her the session topper of the day and she was one of three pricey purchases for Three Chimneys, one of which came in partnership with Whisper Hill Farm.

Princesse Lele and Justly, the latter of which went to Three Chimneys for $410,000, were both consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency and part of a dispersal of stock owned by Three Chimneys and Hill 'n' Dale together. Three Chimneys also partnered with Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill to purchase $470,000 Remedy , who was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Offered as racing or broodmare prospects, Princesse Lele and Justly both display plenty of potential as 2-year-olds and will be given the opportunity to display their talents on the racetrack.

"Obviously we will give them a chance, see if they can run. You hope they can," Three Chimneys vice chairman Doug Cauthen said at Keeneland. "They both were purchased on the depth and quality of the pedigree and physical overall, especially with Princesse Lele. You hope they will be able to run and have a great physical to be a broodmare."

Princesse Lele (Hip 276) came out of the training program of Ian Brennan's while Justly (Hip 176) was prepped by Eddie Woods, Hill 'n' Dale's John Sikura noted. Both fillies were bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys and Hill 'n' Dale.

The clear standout in Tuesday's catalog, Princesse Lele is the second foal out of Carina Mia, a Malibu Moon daughter who raced in Three Chimneys' silks to millionaire status and multiple graded wins topped by the 2016 Acorn Stakes (G1). Carina Mia sold to Shadai Farm just a few months ago for $2.6 million when consigned by Hill 'n' Dale to The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's premier breeding stock sale in Lexington. The female family also consists of Miss Match, a group/grade 1 winner in both Argentina and the United States; Miss Linda, a champion in Argentina who also won a grade 1 in the states; and Mr. Nancho, another Argentinean champion.

Justly is a daughter of Justify   out of champion Take Charge Brandi . On New Year's Day, her 3-year-old half brother Courvoisier  won the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack for owners Hill 'n' Dale and James Spry.

"She is a lovely filly. I tried hard to buy her, I was the underbidder," Sikura said. "… It's a lovely, active pedigree and there is a good current 3-year-old. Everything is positive."

Take Charge Brandi, by Giant's Causeway out of Charming (Seeking the Gold), in 2014 won the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on her way to champion 2-year-old filly honors. She is a half sister to young stallion Omaha Beach  , the 2019 victor of the Arkansas Derby (G1), Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1), and Malibu Stakes (G1), as well as to group 1-placed Courage Under Fire . 

Justly's third dam is the blue hen Take Charge Lady , a multi-millionaire and three-time grade 1 winner at Keeneland. Take Charge Lady has produced champion 3-year-old and sire Will Take Charge  , grade 1 winner and sire Take Charge Indy  , and multiple graded stakes winner As Time Goes By .

"She wasn't perfect up front; I thought that might provide a little opportunity, but that pedigree is so strong," Sikura said of Justly. "I thought she was full of value for sure. Special fillies are hard to find; you have to chase to find and own them, but once you do they are a valued commodity. She sold well, beyond expectations, but not considerably more."

Remedy (Hip 298), a 7-year-old Creative Cause   mare who is a granddaughter of blue hen Leslie's Lady, is intended to visit Gun Runner  , Three Chimneys' leading freshman sire of 2021. The second-highest price Tuesday, she was sold not mated but produced her first foal, a Constitution   colt, in 2021.

Leslie's Lady is the dam of three-time leading general sire Into Mischief  , four-time champion Beholder , and grade 1 winner and young stallion Mendelssohn  . Her unraced daughter Daisy Moon (Orientate) in turn produced Remedy, who was second in the Remington Park Oaks (G3) and Comely Stakes (G3) in 2018. She also produced stakes winner Harry's Holiday  .

"Very attractive, a strong filly that could run," Cauthen said of Remedy. "Looking into the pedigree and her performance she had a lot of speed and is graded placed. She is a really nice fit for Gun Runner, so I think that will be the target. When you look at the depth of the pedigree with Into Mischief and Mendelssohn in there, down the road you will see some nice ones coming out of her."

Remedy was bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones and Ned Jones. She was initially purchased by Twin Creeks Racing at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $200,000 from Airdie's consignment. After partners came in on the mare, Twin Creeks went to $570,000 to retain her when she was sold by Taylor Made at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.